| Administrative History | The British Association (for the Advancement of Science) meeting was held in Aberdeen from the 14-21 September 1859. Prince Albert was President of the Association at this time. |
| Description | The first meeting was held in the Council Chambers on 27 November 1858. Those present were: The Lord Provost, Mr. Thomson of Banchory, Professor Nicol, Professor Fuller, Messrs. Nevell Burnett, John Angus and John White. It was agreed that the Committee should meet every Saturday at one o'clock in the Council Chambers. Other events recorded in the minutes include:
4 December 1858: Certain documents were revised relating to the proposed archaeological exhibition.
4 January 1859: The list of names proposed for the local committee at Aberdeen was approved by the Council of the British Association.
12 January 1859 (pages 4-6): The first meeting of the Local Committee was held at the Town Hall. A Scientific Committee was appointed [including the President of the Medical Society and Doctor's Dyce, Kilgour, Ogilvie and Ogston], and a circular was approved requesting the loan of 'five specimens illustrating the natural history of the district from the Forth to the Shetland Islands, to form a museum for exhibitions…'.
2 March 1859: At a meeting of the Science Committee in the Town Hall it was agreed to form a sub-committee, to be called the Museum Committee, 'to make arrangements for the Museum of Natural History which is to be formed'. It was also agreed to appoint a 'Local Paper Committee, to look out for papers to be read before the association by local contributors on subjects of scientific interest connected with the district'.
12 March 1859: At the first meeting of the Local Paper Committee a list of subjects to be presented by specific individuals was proposed.
12 March 1859: At a meeting of the Museum Committee it was resolved to establish an Accommodation Committee, 'to provide accommodation for the museum and to take charge of the specimens which may be forwarded'. It was also agreed to form a separate museum of industry.
9 March 1859 (page 12) [date possibly incorrect]: A letter was read from Principal Dewar granting the Association permission to use the museum and other rooms in Marischal College.
12 May 1859: Meeting of Reception Committee. It was agreed to arrange a meeting with the Directors of the Music Hall Company to confer about the rent of the rooms in the Music Hall. [Also see meeting of 14 June on pages 17-18.]
29 August 1859: Meeting of the Finance and Reception Committees at the Town Hall, making arrangements for a reception room to be used by the Prince Consort and day trips to Elgin, Benachie and other places. |